Minimalist Long Island Beach House by John Pawson

British architect John Pawson, one of the major proponents of minimalist contemporary architecture, has designed a beach house in Montauk, New York, that bears the geometric forms and lack of ornamentation for which Pawson is famous. Montauk House is also distinguished by its exterior cladding, a stucco-like material known as render—which marks a clear — Continue reading …

British architect John Pawson, one of the major proponents of minimalist contemporary architecture, has designed a beach house in Montauk, New York, that bears the geometric forms and lack of ornamentation for which Pawson is famous. Montauk House is also distinguished by its exterior cladding, a stucco-like material known as render—which marks a clear shift away from the silvery cedar shingle homes that define the architectural vernacular of eastern Long Island.

Pawson himself describes his material choice as one that “reinforces the intimacy of the relationship between architecture and context, with walls finished in sandy render and decks made from silvered ipe, resembling driftwood.” The house’s lower decking, devoid of railings, segues almost seamlessly into the sandy oceanfront property, while the upper deck rises above the sand and dunes to frame the ocean and sky through a series of vertical planes—echoing the sumptuous views framed by windows inside the house.